“I wanted this competition,” Pico said on The MMA Hour. “I train every day to be the best in the world. I told everybody around me, ‘I don’t want to go out there and fight a guy 1-2, 1-0.’ I want to go challenge myself. I know what my abilities are.”

Pico has been doing the majority of his training for that pro MMA debut with Bob Cook and the America Kickboxing Academy.

Training aside, the amateur wrestling star will also be competing in Madison Square Garden at Bellator 180 and that’s where the fighter feels he belongs.

“I feel that’s where I belong,” Pico said. “I’ve been competing on the biggest stages all my life. This is how I envisioned it — being in Madison Square Garden on a pay-per-view card. I know what I have to do and I’m gonna go get it done June 24.”

Bellator 180 takes place on Saturday, June 24 from Madison Square Garden in New York, New York with Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.